NEIGHBOURS battled in the street when trouble broke out on New Year’s Eve, a court heard.

Lyn Johnston, 34, had racist insults shouted at her and she was pulled to the ground by her hair, said prosecutor Sue Jacobs.

It began with a large group of youths gathering outside Miss Johnston’s home in Billingham and her partner Terence Morris, also 34, went out to investigate.

The police and council had received previous complaints about difficulties with youths, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Miss Johnston said that the youths were calling her racist names before neighbours Debra Bowe, 42, and Alison Kernan, 33, pulled her to the ground.

The problems had begun after Bowe moved into the area, said Mrs Jacobs.

Rod Hunt, defending Bowe who had a 13-year-old daughter, said that the flare-up was linked to New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Nigel Soppitt defending Kernan, said that she was a mother-of-three, and that both women could afford to pay a cash penalty.

Judge George Moorhouse told the women: “Your behaviour on the 31st of December was very far from satisfactory. Neighbours have to get on with each other otherwise life becomes very difficult, as you know.”

The women, both of Newbury Way, Billingham, were facing trial for racially aggravated assault by beating, assault by beating, and affray which they denied. Kernan also denied a charge of possessing offensive weapons, a knife and hammer.

They pleaded guilty to an alternative charge of threatening words and behaviour, which was accepted by the prosecution.